A Christmas Wish on Arran (Scottish Romances #4)

Chapter Twenty-One

Beth was walking up the driveway of Meadowbank Cottage when she spotted Kirsty walking towards the front door of her house.

‘Good morning.’ Beth waved and smiled.

‘Beth,’ she said excitedly. ‘You remembered where we are then?’

‘Yes, though I’m not going to lie. For a moment I thought I’d gotten lost. Then I recognised where I was.’

Kirsty grinned at her. ‘Come on in out the cold.’ She ushered Beth through the front door. ‘I was just over at my dad’s making him a coffee.’

‘This is lovely.’ Beth looked around the bright hallway. ‘And something smells incredible.’

‘Thank you. Here, let me take your jacket.’ Beth shrugged it off her shoulders and Kirsty hung it on one of the pegs by the door. ‘I’m not sure if you remember much about it, but it will have changed a lot since you were last here. Steve and I completely gutted it when we moved in. And, of course, the barn over there was totally dilapidated. That’s where my dad lives now, and Amy and her partner James live in the studio next door.’

‘I have a vague memory of a party in there . . .’

‘Oh yes, there were certainly a few when we were younger.’ Kirsty laughed. ‘Changed days now though. I’ve made scones. That’s about as exciting as it gets these days.’

‘That’s what the lovely smell is?’

Kirsty nodded. ‘Yes, I thought, seeing as you were coming, it was a good excuse to whip up a batch of scones. Steve is out this morning, and with the kids away from home, I guess I don’t always bake as much as I used to. It’s been nice to have an excuse.’

‘They smell wonderful. Thank you.’

‘Come on into the kitchen. The fire’s on there and it’s nice and cosy.’ She gestured through to the kitchen and invited Beth to take a seat at the large table. ‘Would you like coffee or tea?’

‘Coffee would be great thanks.’

Kirsty busied herself, filling a large cafetière with ground coffee and boiling water. She stirred it, plunged the lid down then set it on the table alongside a plate of scones. ‘Now, don’t be shy. Please do help yourself.’

Beth was a bit nervous, and grateful that Kirsty was being so welcoming. ‘Thank you. This is so kind of you Kirsty. I can’t actually quite believe I’m here after so long. It is very weird.’

‘You are very welcome. It is so nice to see you Liz — Beth. Sorry, it will take me a while to get used to calling you that. You were always Elizabeth or Liz or Lizzie.’

Beth shrugged apologetically. ‘Beth just kind of stuck when I started working for various reasons. I was quickly told that Elizabeth or Liz Taylor would just be asking for trouble, and I would just be opening myself to all sorts of jokes. And also that I was no movie star either . . .’

‘Charming.’ Kirsty shook her head in disbelief.

‘I got used to that kind of comment.’ Beth watched as Kirsty poured the coffee.

‘Milk?’

‘Just a splash please.’

Kirsty looked at her. ‘What brought you back to Arran then? I’m obviously dying to know what you’re doing working here now. After all this time.’

Beth sighed. ‘I know, I agree it’s all quite random. And I had no idea you were still here either, Kirsty. I guess I didn’t really think too much about what I was doing when I applied for the job.’

Kirsty nodded encouragingly at her. ‘I actually lived in London for a while. That’s where Steve and I met and the kids were born.’

‘Really?’ Beth was surprised. ‘Where did you live?’

‘In south-east London, a place called Dulwich,’ said Kirsty.

‘I don’t believe that we were so close and we didn’t know . . .’

They both sat in silence for a few moments, revisiting their memories.

‘I needed a change from London . . .’ Beth took a gulp of coffee. ‘Life’s been a bit challenging for various reasons the past few years. I’ve been freelancing for a while now, and that all started to dry up just with everyone’s money getting squeezed . . . I saw the job advertised and just thought I would go for it. It was a complete leap of faith.’

Kirsty raised an eyebrow. ‘You know, sometimes these things happen for a reason. But I am impressed. I do think it was a brave move to make. And it’s so good to catch up after all this time.’